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 Original drew a lungful of smoke down deep and gave Von Tromp his steady gaze.

"Well, when the courts fail to give justice—what?" Original queried bluntly. His visitor gave his shoulders a slight lift.

"Take yourself as an individual. Suppose you had a man arrested for breaking into your house and the courts freed him. Suppose you had that same man arrested the second time for the same offense and the courts failed to convict. What would you do to protect your property? That's putting the question fairly."

"But I 'm an officer of the State of Wyoming," Original began. Von Tromp ignored his answer:

"You 'd make it healthy for that man to move away, would n't you? You 'd make the country too hot to hold him. Well, take the case of our people with their backs to the wall because of the rustlers and sheepmen" Von Tromp suddenly broke his speech and gazed reflectively out the window. He cast a shrewd look into the range inspector's face before resuming.

"I did hear something down at Cheyenne—just a rumor which circulates as rumors will—about somebody with a private grudge up